Summer Writing Activities

Parents, have you thought about ways to engage your child in creative writing activities during the summer vacation? Here are a few strategies that will make writing entertaining and worthwhile for your child that can be used on rainy days, vacation trips, camping trips, visits to Grandma’s, or any day your child feels the need to be creative. I have gathered a supply list and writing ideas that can spark your child’s creativity with paper and pen. Who knows, you just might have a budding author in your presence.


Supply List

1. Paper: plain white paper, construction paper, scrap paper from packaging, lined yellow tablet, cardboard sheets, index cards, note pads, cards, notebooks, envelopes

2. Writing tools: pencils, pens, crayons, colored pencils, markers, finger paints, water colors, tempera paint, chalk

3. Shoe box with lid: use a shoe box to collect the items needed for writing. This box will keep the writing items together for storage and for travel. Your child can decorate this box and use it for keeping all of the writing materials for many hours of entertainment.

Writing Ideas

1. Making signs: help your child make signs for identifying the rooms in your home, for example: “Tommy’s Room”, “Dad’s Room”, “Kitchen”, “Closet”, etc.

2. Make labels: help your child make labels for personal items and things around the house. Label cards or sticky notes could include: Toy Box, Door, Television, Chair, Refrigerator, Cabinet, etc.

3. Dictate Stories: encourage your child to tell you stories and you write them down. Have your child read the story back to you in his own words.

4. Inventive Spelling: encourage your child to write stories on his own but not to worry about the correct spelling of words. Tell your child to ‘write the letters for the sounds of the word’ and not to worry about the spelling. Inventive spelling will give your child practice in using encoding skills learned in school.

5. Different kinds of writings: write letters to family members and friends. Write “thank you” notes for gifts. Write grocery lists for shopping. Write a “to do” list for chores.

6. Artistic writing: draw a picture and write a sentence to describe the drawing. Use colored pencils and make “rainbow” words. Use finger paints or water colors to illustrate a painting and then write a story about the drawing.

7. Journal or Writing Log: older children can keep a journal or writing log to record daily activities. A notebook or booklet made from construction paper and stapled sheets will make a journal that can become a keepsake for your child’s summer adventures.



The most important thing to remember is that these writing activities should be fun for your child. Give your child the opportunity to select the writing tools and paper choices. Encourage your child to use these items in a variety of ways to enhance creativity and to spark a love for writing.